Post-hole digger.



L. HUESSELMANN.

POST HOLE DIGGER.

APPLICATION FILED mum. 1917.

1,236,940. I Patented Aug. 14,1917.

OFFICE.

LUD'WIG H EssELnAnn, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

POST-HOLE BIGGER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patgntgd Aug. 14:, 1%117.

Application filed March 9, 1917. Serial No. 153,627.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUDWIG HUESSEL- MANN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Post-HoleDig gers, of which the following is a specifica tion.

My invention relates to post hole diggers and the like and has for itsprimary object the provision ofan improved device of this characterwhich shall have means for varying the diameter of the hole being dug.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for varyingthe pitch of the digging plates in order that the device may accommodateitself for 'use in hard or soft earth.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a tubular framewhich shall act as a container for the earth being dugto facilitateelevation of the earth from the bottom of the hole.

A further object is the provision of means whereby the bottom of saidframe is substantially closed when the lateral cutting elements areoutwardly extended.

A further object isv the provision of means whereby the lateral cuttingelements form side closures at the lower end of the frame when. thedigging plates are given their greatest pitch.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means whereby thelateral cutting elements and the bottom digging elelr-ents aresimultaneously adjustable.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means whereby thelateral cutting elements and the bottom digging plates aresimultaneously adjustable in opposite directions as relates to theirdigging functions.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent byreference to the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through my invention taken approximatelyon line 1.1 of Fig. 2; v

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on Fig. 3 is a fragmentaryhorizontal section on line 33 of Fig. 1. l

Reference numeral 10 indicates a cylin" .boss and slidably. engagesdrical frame having an open bottom 11 and, at its lower end,diametrically opposite side apertures 12 and 13. At the bottom oftheframe a ring 14 is securely fastened to the inner surface of thetubular frame 10. This ring serves to rigidify the lower end of thestructure and acts as a bearing for the opposite ends of a horizontalshaft 15 which traverses the device diametrically and upon which arejournaled a pair of semi-circular plates 16 and 17 which, when in alinedposition, practically close the open lower end 11 of the digger.

In the apertures 12 and 13 are respectively mounted laterally extensiblearcuate cutters 18 and 19 hinged on opposite vertical pintles 21 and 22,the cutters fitting their apertures when in closed position.

Spaced upper and lower supports 23 and 21.

diametrically traverse the frame 10, each being centrally apertured forpassage of a vertical adjustingrod 25. At the lower end of this rod issecured a boss 26 having apertured arms 27, 28, 29' and 31 which projectradially from the rod in pairs at right angles to each other. Links32and 33 connect the arms 31 and 28 to the cutters 18 and 19,respectively, while links 31 and 35 connect arms 27 and 29 to oppositeends of plates 16 and 17 respectively/, The upper support 23 carries aboss 36. The upper end of rod 25 is threaded as at 37 and the rod andboss are oppositely channeled to receive a key 38 which is rigidly fixedin the the channel of the rod to permit vertical movement of the rodwhile preventing its rotation on its axis. An upper adjusting lockingnut 39 is threaded upon rod 25 above boss 36 and a similar nut 41 isthreaded upon the rod below support 23. Pivoted at the upper end offrame 10 are diametrically opposite operating handles 42 and 43 whichmay be folded against the outer side of the frame, as illustrated infull lines in Fig. 1 and, for

'the purpose of operating the digger, are

extended into the shown. y

In the operation of my invention, and

dotted line positions considering the parts as shown in Fig. 1,

the hole to be dug, the lower ends of plates 25 tion.

16 and 17 slipping over the ground without digging. Following thisaction the device is turned clockwise, the result being a dig ging ofthe lower points of plates 16 and 17 into the earth while cutters 18 and19 sllde about the periphery of the hole. The earth shaved ofi by thecutters in the counter- V clockwise movement is projectgd by themcentripetally onto the upper surfaces of plates 16 and 17, while theearth dug by plates 16 and 17 in the clockwise movement of the device isof course elevated onto the upper surfaces of the plates also. Theplates are normally operated at such a slightly inclined angle that theywill retain the earth upon them while the whole device is elevated andinverted upon the ground. Not only does my digger operate to sink a holevery rapidly but its use is less fatiguing 20 to the operator than manydiggers now in l8 and 19 toward the center of the device and a greaterangle or tilt in plates 16 and 17. The diameter of the hole being thusreduced the strength of the operator is adequate to rotate the device inthe clockwise direction and more rapidly sink thehole bepause of thegreater tilt of the plates 16 and 17. Conversely, when it is desired to.

increase the diameter of the hole the rod 25 is lowered and locked byputs 39 and 41, thus swinging the cutters outwardly-of the 40 frame andsimultaneously lessening the pitch of plates 16 and 17. This latteradjustment automatically conditions the machine' to conserve thestrength of the operator in that it lessens the speed with which thehole is A? sunk by reason of the reduced pitch of the digging plates.The operation of nuts 39 and 41 whentightened' respectively down-.wardly and upwardly acts to set the cutters and plates in any givenadjustment and to prevent their movement relative to the frame duringthe digging operation. Should the operator be digging in soft earth andcontinue the operation of the device until a very considerable quantityof earth is collected in the bottom of the tubular frame 10,

he may prevent any loss of earth through the bottom during the elevationof the device I from the hole by moving rod 25 downwardly to aline lates16 and 17' in a horizontal plane. T is action will substantially closethe bottom of the device.

While I have illustrated and described-the preferred embodiment of myinvention, it is obvious that one skilled in the art may conhollow framehavin tures at its lower en and an open bottom,

able digging plates.

2. In a digger the combination with a hollow frame of laterallyextensible cutters and tiltable digging plates.

8. In ,a digger the combination with a hollow frame of laterallyextensible cutters at the lower end thereof and tiltable digging platesin the bottom thereof.

l. in a digger the combination with a hollow, frame of laterallyextensible cutters at the lower end thereof and oppositely tiltabledigging plates in the bottom thereof.

5. in a digger the combination with a hollow frame having an open bottomand side apertures at its lower end of laterally extensible cutters insaid apertures and oppositely tiltable digging plates horizontallyjournaled in said open bottom.

b. In a digger the combination with a hollow frame having an open bottomand diametrically opposite side apertures at its lower end of laterallyextensible cutters mounted in said apertures and oppositely tiltabledigging plates horizontally jour naled in said open bottom.

i. In a digger the combination with a hollow frame having diametricallyopposite side apertures at its lower end and an open bottom, of cuttersfitting saidapertures and respectively hinged to diametrically oppositevertical edges of said apertures, and oppositely tiltable digging plateshorizontally gournaled in said open bottom.

8. n a digger the combination with a hollow frame having opposite sideapertures at its lower end and an open bottom, of cutters hinged todiametrically oppositeedges' 1n the respective apertures whereby theyoperate to cut when the frame is rotated in one direction, andoppositely tiltable digglng plates horizontally journaled in said openbottom so that said plates dig into the soil when the frame is rotatedin the opposite direction.

9. In a digger the combination with a frame of lateralcutting elementsmounted to operate when said frame is rotated in a given direction, andinclined digging plates positioned to idle during the cutting rotationof said frame and to dig during the opposite rotation of the frame.

10. In a digger thp combination with a opposite side aperof cuttershinged to vertical-diametrically opposite edges in said apertures,opposite digging plates horizontally j ournaled in said open bottom, andmeans for adjusting said cutters and plates.

11. In a digger the combination with a hollow frame having opposite sideapertures at its lower end and an open bottom, of cutters hinged tovertical diametrically opposite edges in said apertures, oppositedigging plates horizontally journaled in said open bottom, and means forsimultaneously adjusting said cutters and plates.

12. In a digger the combination with a hollow frame having opposite sideapertures at its lower end and an open bottom, of cutters hinged tovertical diametrically opposite edges in said apertures, oppositedigging plates horizontally journaled in said open bottom, and means foradjusting said cutters and plates in opposite directions with respect totheir digging functions.

13. In a digger the combination with a hollow frame having diametricallyopposite 'side apertures in its lower end and an open bottom, of cuttersvertically hinged by diametrically opposite edges in the respectiveapertures, opposite digging plates horizontally journaled in said openbottom, and adjusting means for simultaneously varying the outwardposition of said cutters and the inclination of said plates.

14. In a digger the combination with a hollow frame having diametricallyopposite side apertures in its lower end and an open bottom, of cuttersvertically hinged by diametrically opposite edges in the respectiveapertures, opposite digging plates horizontally journaled in said openbottom, and adjusting means centrally positioned in said frame forsimultaneously varying the outward swing of said cutters and theinclination of said plates.

15. In a digger the combination with a hollow frame having diametricallyopposite side apertures in its lower end and an open bottom, of cuttersvertically hinged by dia metrically opposite edges inv the respectiveapertures, opposite digging plates horizon tally journaled in said openbottom, and adjusting means centrally positioned in said frame andvertically movable for simultaneously varying the outward swing of saidcut ters and the inclination of'said plates.

16. In a digger the combination with a. hollow frame havingdiametrically opposite side apertures in its lower end and an openbottom, of cutters vertically hinged by dia metrically opposite edges inthe respective apertures, opposite digging plates horizontally journaledin said open bottom, and adjusting means for simultaneously reducing theoutward swing of said cutters and increasing the inclination of saidplates.

17. In a digger the combination with a hollow frame having diametricallyopposite side apertures in its lower end and an open.

ing the lower end of said rod to diametrically opposite plates.

18. In a digger the combination with a hollow frame having diametricallyopposite side apertures in its lower end and an open bottom, of cuttersvertically hinged by diametrically opposite edges in the respectiveapertures, opposite digging plates horizontally journaled in said openbottom, a vertical rod centrally mounted in said frame, links connectingthe lower end of said rod to the respective cutters, links connectingthe lower end of said rod to diametrically oppo site points on therespective plates, and means for locking said rod in any verticaladjustment.

19. In a digger the combination with a hollow frame having diametricallyopposite side apertures at its lower end and an open bottom, of cuttersvertically hinged by diametrically opposite edges in the respectiveapertures, a horizontal shaft diametrically traversing said open bottom,a pair of complementary semi-circular digging plates journaled on saidshaft, the shaft lying at right angles to the straight edge of each ofsaid plates, a vertically adjustable element centrally mounted in saidframe, links connecting the respective cutters to said element, andlinks connecting opposite ends of the respective plates to said element.

20. In a digger the combination with a hollow frame having diametricallyopposite side apertures at its lower end and an open bottom, of cuttersvertically hinged by diametrically opposite edges in the respectiveapertures, a horizontal shaft diametrically points on the respectivetraversing said open bottom, a pair of complementary semi-circulardigging plates journaled on said shaft, the shaft lying at right anglesto the straight edge of each of said plates, a vertically adjustableelement centrally mounted in said frame, links connecting the respectivecutters to said element, links connecting opposite ends of therespective plates to said element, and means for securing said elementin any vertical adjustment.

21. In a digger the combination with a cylindrical frame havingdiametrically opposite side apertures at its lower end and an openbottom, of arcuate cutters fitting said apertures and vertically hingedtherein by diametrically opposite edges, a horizontal shaftdiametrically traversing said open bottom, complementary semi-circulardigging platessub'stantially closingsaid bottom and V journaled uponsaid shaft, said shaft lying at right angles to the parallel straightedges of said plates, upper and lower supports positioned in the frameand concentrically apertured, a vertically adjustable rod mounted insaid supports, links connecting the lower end of said rod with therespective cutters, links connecting the lower end of said rod withopposite ends of the respective plates, means carried by one of saidsupports for preventing rotation of said rod, and devices for verticallyadjusting said rod.

22. In a digger the combination with a cylindrical frame havingdiametrically opposite side apertures at its lower end and an openbottom, or" arcuate cutters fitting said apen tures and verticallyhinged therein by diametrically opposite edges, a horizontal. shaftdiametrically traversing said open bottom,

complementary semi-circular digging plates substantially closing saidhottom'and journaled upon said shaft, said shaft lying at right anglesto the parallel straight edges of said plates, upper and lower supportspositioned in the frame andconcentrically aperture d, a verticallyadjustable rod mounted in said supports, links connecting the lower endof said rod with the respective cutters, links connecting the lower endof said rod with opposite ends of the respective plates, means carriedby one Or the said supports for preventing rotation of said rod, devicesfor vertically adjusting said rod, and opposite handles at the upper endof said frame.

23. In a digger the combination with a tal shaft diametricallytraversing said open bottom, complementary semi-circular digging platessubstantially closing said bottom and journaled upon said shaft, saidshaft lying at right angles to the parallel straight edges of saidplates, upper and .lower supports positioned in the frame andconcentrically apertured, a vertically adjustable rod mounted in saidsupports, links connecting the lower end of said rod with "therespective cutters, links connecting the lower end of said rod withopposite ends of the respective plates, means carried by one of saidsupports for preventing rotation of said rod, devices for verticallyadjusting said rod, and opposite handles pivo'tally mounted at theupperend of said frame and foldable against the same. i

24. in a digger the combination with a hollow frame having an openbottom, of a horizontal shaft diametrically traversing said open bottom,complementary semi-circular plates journaled on said shaft, a verticallyadjustable rigid rod concentric with the frame, and stifi" linksconnecting diametrically opposite ends-of the respective plates to thelower end of said .rod.

In testimony whereof I have afixed my signature.

Lnnwie n'onssntnann

